Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page might read frrealwomen.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 8). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place is Los Angeles during September 1987. The people involved are Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali. The dramatic situation the characters find themselves in is reaching the deadline on time for the shipment of dresses. It is told through the perspective of Ana, but the central problem is Estela's.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion in this play was Pancha and Rosalie leaving the factory after Pancha fought with Estela. From there the work flow stopped and it was left to wonder how the women would finish the work on time. Once Pancha returned, all the dresses were finished and the play began to wrap up its ending.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The events take place at this time because this is when Ana decides to share her story. Throughout the entire play, she has wanted to be a writer and now that she is, she is able to recount the entire story for us.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The main dramatic question is whether they will finish the dresses on time. Another simpler question is whether Ana will achieve her dreams or not. This question isn't really answered, however, at the end of the play, Ana is remarkable happier with her life.
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana's first want is to not work in the factory, and to be a writer instead. Both her mother and her sister are an obstacle in this and even some of the women at the factory. Her mother and sister were forcing her to work instead of letting her follow her dreams. This showed a me against another individual. The women at the factory doubted she had what it took because she was a woman and a child who didn't know anything. This had simply been the women's way of thinking, a me against society obstacle.
Ana then wanted to show them that she was better or more educated than them and try to teach them the 'new way' of thinking. However, this ended up turning on her and she was the one who learned more from the women than what she was trying to teach.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
One of the most theatrical moments is at the beginning of the play where we find out that Estela does not have papers, she is being sued, and she has a deadline to meet before the company takes her to court. Another theatrical moment is when Ana starts working at the factory. We learn Ana's views on feminism and the women's response to it. We also learn that Estela has an interest in Tormento.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One example of an image is when all the women take off their clothes. Their dialogue paints a picture of how they see their own bodies, directly referencing back to the title of the play.
Another image is when Ana stands on the machine trying to teach women how they should react to mistreatment by men. It is very much like a protest with an advocate on stage, inspiring others. However, in Ana's situation, the women sort of just shrugged her off.
Another image is when Pancha and Estela argue over opening the door. This scene shows an image of chaos. There are dresses that are ruined, tension between all the women, Rosalie fainting, and the action of opening the door being seen as the short cut to failure.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Some themes in this play are feminism, body positivity, and racism.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family relationships played a huge role in this play. Mainly between the daughters and their mother Carmen. Their mother constantly pushed them to find a man to marry and to lose weight in order to do so. However, towards the end of the play, the familial relationship changed in a way that the mother finally began to understand that they feel comfortable in their own bodies. The play also focused on the husband wife relationship without even presenting any male characters. Marriage was redefined as a cage and a prison to women. It became something Ana believed women should have their own choice in that most of the women did not comprehend.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 8). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place is Los Angeles during September 1987. The people involved are Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali. The dramatic situation the characters find themselves in is reaching the deadline on time for the shipment of dresses. It is told through the perspective of Ana, but the central problem is Estela's.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion in this play was Pancha and Rosalie leaving the factory after Pancha fought with Estela. From there the work flow stopped and it was left to wonder how the women would finish the work on time. Once Pancha returned, all the dresses were finished and the play began to wrap up its ending.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The events take place at this time because this is when Ana decides to share her story. Throughout the entire play, she has wanted to be a writer and now that she is, she is able to recount the entire story for us.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The main dramatic question is whether they will finish the dresses on time. Another simpler question is whether Ana will achieve her dreams or not. This question isn't really answered, however, at the end of the play, Ana is remarkable happier with her life.
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana's first want is to not work in the factory, and to be a writer instead. Both her mother and her sister are an obstacle in this and even some of the women at the factory. Her mother and sister were forcing her to work instead of letting her follow her dreams. This showed a me against another individual. The women at the factory doubted she had what it took because she was a woman and a child who didn't know anything. This had simply been the women's way of thinking, a me against society obstacle.
Ana then wanted to show them that she was better or more educated than them and try to teach them the 'new way' of thinking. However, this ended up turning on her and she was the one who learned more from the women than what she was trying to teach.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
One of the most theatrical moments is at the beginning of the play where we find out that Estela does not have papers, she is being sued, and she has a deadline to meet before the company takes her to court. Another theatrical moment is when Ana starts working at the factory. We learn Ana's views on feminism and the women's response to it. We also learn that Estela has an interest in Tormento.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One example of an image is when all the women take off their clothes. Their dialogue paints a picture of how they see their own bodies, directly referencing back to the title of the play.
Another image is when Ana stands on the machine trying to teach women how they should react to mistreatment by men. It is very much like a protest with an advocate on stage, inspiring others. However, in Ana's situation, the women sort of just shrugged her off.
Another image is when Pancha and Estela argue over opening the door. This scene shows an image of chaos. There are dresses that are ruined, tension between all the women, Rosalie fainting, and the action of opening the door being seen as the short cut to failure.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Some themes in this play are feminism, body positivity, and racism.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family relationships played a huge role in this play. Mainly between the daughters and their mother Carmen. Their mother constantly pushed them to find a man to marry and to lose weight in order to do so. However, towards the end of the play, the familial relationship changed in a way that the mother finally began to understand that they feel comfortable in their own bodies. The play also focused on the husband wife relationship without even presenting any male characters. Marriage was redefined as a cage and a prison to women. It became something Ana believed women should have their own choice in that most of the women did not comprehend.